Hearing loss decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence linking the condition to active duty service or within one year of separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and right upper extremity neuropathy have been denied as the evidence does not support a causal link to active service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because his service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, sleep apnea with COPD, and erectile dysfunction, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Coronary Artery Disease and Bilateral Hearing Loss were reduced, but the Board found that these reductions were not proper based on lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,Headaches are not service-connected.,Thyroid disability is not service-connected.,PTSD is rated based on its current symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal to revise a June 2020 rating decision for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed because the form he submitted did not properly identify which decision he wanted to challenge, and thus his appeal is invalid.

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss and tinnitus for further development to address whether these conditions are related to noise exposure during service, including incidents involving a blow to the head in 1985 and cumulative effects of loud noise exposure from 1985 through 1993.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left shoulder disorder, a back disorder, heart/ischemic heart disease, and a right foot disorder.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including prostate cancer, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, valvular heart disease, asthma, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded several issues due to the appellant's character of discharge and other service connection claims. The VA will seek additional records, conduct a mental health examination, and readjudicate the cases.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss started in service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD, GERD, and sleep apnea are denied. The claim for a 30% initial rating for GERD is granted. The claim for a higher initial rating than 50% for obstructive sleep apnea is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA audiological opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and his military service, including acknowledged noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination, requiring a new opinion on whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a finger condition, back condition, bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral ear condition (to include hearing loss and recurrent infections), and acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified-schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder) due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and need for further examination. The Veteran is not seeking service connection based on a presumption of exposure, but rather on direct evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dismissed the claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability as moot due to a grant of service connection in January 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but his claim for tinnitus was granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the tinnitus claim.